Hasselblad bodies and magazines are dated by a code where the last two digits of the year of manufacture are replaced by the corresponding letter where 0-9 are represented by the letters V.H. Pictures, as shown. There were some models/years when a third letter was used, but the year is designated by the first 2 letters. In 1990 Hasselblad added two numbers to indicate what kind of body or magazine it is. E.G. 10 for a CM, 11 for a 503CX and 19 for a 503 CW.

This is a little more difficult than the bodies and magazines, but on some CF lenses there was a number stamped on the inside of the lens barrel which was the year of manufacture reversed e.g. 58 would indicate that the lens was manufactured in 1985. For the other lenses you would have to refer to the excellent Hasselblad System Compendium written by Richard Nordin (available online from this site!), or e-mail me!

The "C" lenses were the original range of leaf shutter lenses for the 500c and are broadly split into two types. Chrome from 1957 to about 1972, then black until about 1982. The F lenses were made for the 2000 Focal plane shutter cameras from 1977 to about 1990. Without the restriction of a shutter in the lens, the F lenses could have a much faster aperture, but obviously could not be used on the C cameras. In 1982 Zeiss brought out a new range of lenses called the CF lenses. The CF lenses were designed to be used on both the "C" range of cameras (leaf shutter) and the "F" range (Focal plane shutter) by selecting either a shutter speed or the F setting on the lens. The CF lenses are still referred to as the "new" lenses. Confusingly Hasselblad introduced a new 80mm f2.8 C in 1994 which looks like a CF but the F setting was omitted.

The Flexbody was introduced in 1995 to allow tilt and shift movement using Hasselblad lenses and magazines. Although Zeiss lenses cover a greater area than 6x6 cm the amount of shift is limited, especially at wide apertures. Tilting the lens is not a problem as the film stays within the coverage of the lens. The limitations of movement of the Flexbody were overcome by the introduction of the Arcbody with its new range of Rodenstock lenses. These lenses, a 35mm Apo-Grandagon f4.5, a 45mm Apo-Grandagon f4.5 and a 75mm Grandagon-N f4.5 have a much greater coverage allowing much more movement. The Arcbody will not accept conventional Hasselblad lenses, but will take the standard Magazine. The decision of which camera to use depends on what type of photography is required. Generally for landscape or product photography the Flexbody is ideal, especially for a photographer who is already a Hasselblad user. For Architectural photography, however, the extra coverage of the Rodenstock lenses is extremely useful.

Schneider made a 140-280mm f5.6 Variogon C in 1977. An F version was also made in small quantities. In 1988 a CF Variogon was developed, several years after Zeiss developed the CF lenses. The last manufacturer to provide optics for Hasselblad was Rodenstock, with three lenses for the Arcbody, a 35mm Apo-Grandagon f4.5, a 45mm Apo-Grandagon f4.5 and a 75mm Grandagon-N f4.5

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